Fire pit rules in Charleston County, SC — also called outdoor burning, recreational fire, or open flame ordinances — cover fuel types, clearances, and when burning is allowed.
Small recreational fire pits and campfires are allowed under SC open-burning Regulation 61-62.2, which exempts fires 'used solely for recreational purposes.' Burn only clean, untreated wood, keep the fire attended, and never let smoke become a nuisance to neighbors.
SC DES (formerly DHEC) Regulation 61-62.2 prohibits open burning statewide but carves out recreational fires. Section I.C exempts 'Campfires and fires used solely for recreational purposes, ceremonial occasions, or human warmth,' and requires that warmth fires use only clean wood products, not stained, painted, glued, coated, or treated lumber. Charleston County adds no separate fire-pit permit for unincorporated land, but its Ch. 3 Livability noise/nuisance rules still apply to drifting smoke. Keep pits a safe distance from structures and fences, have water or an extinguisher on hand, and check for any burn ban during dry Lowcountry conditions.
Burning prohibited materials or letting a recreational fire become a smoke nuisance can draw a DES open-burning violation and a county nuisance citation.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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